New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-31
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
HOW THE HOSPITAL FUND IS DIVIDED.

Dr. BAKER OF ST. LUKE's HOSPITAL, SHOWS THE
WORK OF THE DISTRIBUTING COMMITTEE.
70 the Editor Of Tie Tribune
SIR / have watched with great interest the
progress % the Hospital Association discussion, and
note that the assigned to the public for
the withdrawal of the Presbyterian Hospital Is quite
different from that gvon to the Hospital Saturday and
Sunday Association in the official letter of withdrawal
In that letter, tho change made by almost unan-
mous vote of tho association in Article " OF the Con-
stltutlon virtually stating that it longer OBJ
ject OF the association to stimulate and foster the
giving OF designated gifts through this collection, was
given as the cause Of tho withdrawal Now It seems.
from the various communIca tiOns In the papers,
that the real trouble with rule Of the Dstrbut-
Ing Committee, by which they gave less Of the IN
designated fund Institution which had been largo
y favored in des grated contributions than 1t other
wise would have been entitled to receive. That IS,
the trouble was with the rules for distribution of the
funds collected The bylaw giving those rules IS
follows:
The Office Of the Distributing Committee IS to dis
tribute all undesigna contributions.
Tho plan of distribution of undesignatcd funds by
this committee in any year. shall DO TO divide them
among the institutions certified to by this assoca
ton entitled to share In tho distribution for such
year. according to tho number OF Hospital days REQ
patients have been treated in the beds of each nsiltn
ton for the year ending with the 3Oh day OF ecptcm-
Der preceding such distribution.
Institution than 1t would be entitled TO receive
under the foregoing provision u the amount received
by such institution from tho Hospital Saturday and
Sunday collection Of that year In designated gs APP
pl!cabe to expenses makes snch reduction IN
the opinion Of said Distributing Committee fair ana
proper
TO cntitlo any hospital to share in the distribution
Of said gnard funds in wear. 1t shall submit
to this association and file with II. on or before No
veTbrr each year, report OF liz work receipts ana
expenditures for the year ending ScptcnSr 80 N
snch date according TO the schedule Issued by this
sociaon for th purpose
1t will be noticed that this bylaw is divided into
four paragraphs The first states that the Office OF the
Distributing Committee IS "to distribute all undesig
mated contributions" i.e the Distributing Committee
have nothing TO do with distributing designated gifts
These invariably forwarded I'm full to the insttn
tions for which they intended. The fourth para
graph states what institutions arc entitled to share In
the distribution OF the undesigna'ed funds Tho sec
ond and third paragraphs really give the rules govern
ing the distribution. The Second provides basis Of
division which would be quite sufficient if there were
no designated gifts. The matter could easily be set
tied by rule of mathematics, without any DiStrlDut-
Ing Committee.
But because of the inequalities arising from the
large sums heretofore designated for two or three hos
pitfalls through the collection. certain Discretionary
powers were given to a Distributing Committee. year
IL elected and carefully selected from our most hon
oicd and representative citizens. This discretion
given In the third paragraph Of the by laws, gave the
Dis 'rbuting Committee the duty 10 consider the tuna
collected in its entirety, and To make such Deduction
in thor awards account OF the designated gifts re
ccivcd 10y certain institutions, As they might ihlnk
fair and proper" In the exercise of that discretion
the Distributing Committee passed some years ago the
following resolution:
Icsoiccd That ia tho case of hospitals which have
received designated funrs 10 an amount exceeding
81 600 a sumreprcScniing % per cent OF the " holo
amount Shall be deducted from the undcs grated funds
apportoncd 10 them. and that the amount thus d.
Quoted shall DE added to the sums to be- DIVIDED among
the last ten hospitals on the printed statement
II may interest the public TO know how the rule
worked practically last wear. Two hos ais had re-
cciycd grated gifts through The collection Of l-r
~ Of over al 900. follows st Lukc's Hospital,
e. 5!,4 II Presbyterian Hospital, S3234 b II be
Ing claimed that The attcr sum was for the cndu"-
of beds" and TIA" language OF the Icy laws brlng
designated gifts applicable to current expense no
AK whatever levied on tn Presbyterian lloSlal
on this account. Tho amount Of SG42 20 was taken
of from the award 70 s. Lukcs Hos Iital. and divided
In ten sums Of SG4 each, which was added TO tho
awards made the ton hos pin ais lowest on the Est
II any have a right TO complain II would seem 10 hc
the managers Of IukoS Hos plta but We have yet
to hear of the first complaint from that quarter
Ne,o- York. Dec 90 1887 GEORGE = BAk r.